Ohio Farm, 2012
West Salem’s story
175 years in pictures
The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 2012.
- 1851West Salem is settled
West SalemOH
A town of 1,430, settled in 1851.
Photo: Roseohioresident · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
1,430
2025 Census estimate · +0% since 2020
Typical home
$161K
−3.8% in a year
Household income
$62K
median
Median age
46.0
years
Jobs based here
359
A commuter town
Is West Salem a good place to live?
The best of West Salem’s subject grades are an A+ for cost of living and an A for civic life; the weakest is a D for health. Only 13 of Ohio’s 1,718 towns score higher on cost of living. West Salem's schools rank ahead of 72% of Ohio towns. Among 994 Ohio towns, just 5 have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than West Salem. West Salem has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes West Salem stand out
Where West Salem beats most towns.
Typical home value
West Salem$161K
Ohio$246K
Cost of livingA+
2.2 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 99% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
Natural hazardsA
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents
West Salem4.8
Typical U.S. town3.7
Typical OH town3.9
Civic lifeA
23% more nonprofits per person
than the typical Ohio town
Charities, civic groups and human services; churches not counted.
Small town
1,430 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
How West Salem grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Ohio), ordered by how far West Salem is from typical.
Cost of livingA+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 11% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listAOpen →HealthLodi Community Hospital 6.7 miles awayDOpen →SchoolsB+Open →Jobs & income$62K median household incomeC+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 5.1 of 20; 4.5% of households have no car; 9.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsConserved land, trails and parksDOpen →History3 notable people born hereB−Open →Civic life4.8 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsAOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 46.0; 5% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to West Salem: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in West Salem, and how to reach them.
PowerOhio Edison16.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWest Salem Village PWSNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers96% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have West Salem’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Ohio you can register online until 30 days before Election Day, in person until 30 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereDirector, Wayne County Board of ElectionsWayne County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2020
ZIP code4428744287 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in West Salem.
HealthD
On CDC estimates, West Salem is less healthy than 90% of U.S. towns
West Salem beats the Ohio average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9. 21% of West Salem adults smoke cigarettes, where Ohio’s towns sit at 16% and U.S. towns at 14%. 20% of West Salem adults report frequent mental distress.
10%healthier than U.S. townsDHealth Grade
| West Salem | Ohio towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 16% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 18% | 17% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 15% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 38% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Ohio
0 better23 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | West Salem | OH |
|---|---|---|
| More smokers | 21.1% | 15.4% |
| More adults with COPD | 10.5% | 8% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 19.2% | 15.3% |
Lodi Community Hospital
6.7 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
Very low risk in West Salem, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 89% of U.S. communities.
11risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHail
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HousingCost of living grade A+
Homes in West Salem are worth about $161K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical West Salem home is worth about $161,000, down 3.8% in a year, 35% below the Ohio typical home. At $775 a month, West Salem’s median rent is below both Ohio’s towns ($944 a month) and U.S. towns ($1,185 a month). 82% of households own their home in West Salem.
$161KZillow home value
| West Salem | Ohio towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $775 a month | $944 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 82% | 77% | 73% |
Typical home value
West Salem$161K
Ohio$246K
−3.8%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
West Salem has 0.7 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave West Salem for work: only 4% work in town. West Salem’s average trip to work is 30 minutes. Jobs based in West Salem grew to 359 in 2023, 243 more than in 2013.
4%work in town
| West Salem | Ohio towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 30 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 14% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $62,000 | $75,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 4% | 6.9% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In West Salem4%
Wooster16%
Medina7%
Ashland5%
Chester Township4%
16 mi
median commute distance
359
jobs based in West Salem
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 60% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
West Salem has four seasons and pleasant summers
West Salem has chilly winters and pleasant summers. The July high in West Salem is 83°F.
29″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter21–36°
Spring38–59°
Summer59–81°
Fall42–62°
Oct 14
typical first frost
Apr 29
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Keep exploring
Everything we know about West Salem
18pages on West Salem
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of West Salem
Ashland UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Ashland13.4 mi$31,210 tuitionThe College of WoosterUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Wooster14.2 mi$61,640 tuition
About 4 of every 100 West Salem residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Ohio.
A commuter town
96% of working residents leave West Salem for work
Where West Salem’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
359jobs based in West Salem
4%of working residents work in town
16 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from West Salem
3 notable people were born in West Salem.
About West Salem
Village in Ohio, United States
West Salem is a village in Wayne County, Ohio. The population was 1,430 at the time of the 2020 census. West Salem is served by a branch of the Wayne County Public Library.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,112 ft
- ZIP code
- 44287
Questions about West Salem
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is West Salem, OH expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A+.
What is West Salem, OH known for?
3 notable people were born here, including Hal Kime and J.A. Hines.